MR images of diabetic subjects and healthy controls were used to explore the longitudinal impact of diabetes mellitus on the rate of degeneration of knee cartilage extracellular matrix over a period of 2 years. MR-based, compartment-specific T2 values, laminar and texture analysis were used to assess the composition of articular knee. Over the follow-up interval of 24 months, all compartments except for the patella showed a statistically significantly higher increase in mean T2 values in the diabetic group compared to healthy controls (p<0.05). Our results suggest a more severe deterioration of the cartilage ECM over time in subjects suffering from diabetes compared to healthy controls.